how fast can a shark swim

Most sharks cruise slowly at around 1.5–3 miles per hour (about 2.4–5 km/h), but some species can sprint at over 30–40 miles per hour in short bursts.

Quick Scoop

• Everyday cruising speed
  • Many large sharks normally glide along at roughly 1.5 mph (about 2.4 km/h) to conserve energy.

* Even big species like great whites spend much of their time in this slow, energy-saving mode.

• Fastest recorded sharks
  • Shortfin mako is often cited as the fastest shark, with measured or estimated bursts in roughly the 45–60 mph (72–97 km/h) range, though the very highest numbers are debated.

* Great white sharks can hit about 25–35 mph (around 40–56 km/h) in short bursts when attacking prey.

• Other quick species
  • Blue sharks are reported around the mid‑20 mph range in fast swimming.

* Bull, tiger, and some hammerhead sharks are usually placed in the roughly 20–25 mph top‑speed bracket.

Why they’re so fast

• Streamlined, torpedo‑like bodies and powerful crescent‑shaped tails help some sharks slice through water efficiently.

• Many can accelerate explosively, going from a slow cruise to a high‑speed lunge in just a couple of seconds to catch agile prey like tuna or swordfish.

TL;DR: A typical shark just cruises at a few miles per hour, but the speed‑demons like the shortfin mako and great white can rocket to around 30–45+ mph in short bursts.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.